June 10, 1957.pp. 1, 10.
By Herbert L. Matthews
Special to
The New York Times
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 9 – This is a city in open revolt against President Fulgencio Batista.No other description could fit the fact that virtually every man, woman, and child in Santiago de Cuba, except police and army authorities, are struggling at all costs to themselves to overthrow the military dictatorship in Havana.
What applies to Santiago de Cuba can be applied with much the same terms to the whole province of Oriente, at least the eastern end of the island.It is the most heavily populated and fertile region of Cuba, and is traditionally the home of the struggle for Cuban liberty.If Havana had anything like the civic resistance movement of Santiago de Cuba, the Batista regime might have ended a long time ago.
It is one of the most extraordinary atmospheres ever encountered by this correspondent in many countries and during many periods of stress and war.The tension is almost palpable and is certainly very dangerous for the regime.Santiago de Cuba is a city living in a state of fear and exaltation, and it is the exaltation that dominates.
The fear is injected by what leading citizens of the city recently branded as a “reign of terror” imposed by the tough chief of police, Lieut. Col. José Maria Salas Cañizares, whom General Batista sent here two weeks ago to try to crush the rebellious spirit of the citizens.
For many months there have been waves of violence and of counter-terrorism by the authorities, but the last two weeks this correspondent was assured, have been the worst.The police chief, according to reliable witnesses, began his lesson to the inhabitants by having his men drive around the city to beat men and women haphazardly.In this way, Colonel Salas Cañizares let it be known that the people had better stay home in the evenings.
They are doing so, as far as could be seen, for Santiago de Cuba is almost a dead city after 9 or 10 o’clock at night, whereas it is normally gay and thronged with men and women at this hot time of the year.
This caused such a sense of horror and revulsion that a large group of women of the city prepared last Sunday for a demonstration of protest, gathering first for a mass in the cathedral.A number of policemen, armed with submachine guns, were sent into the church to walk around and intimidate the women.The maneuver failed, but when the women tried to form a parade, it was roughly broken up, witnesses said.
Two mothers of the slain youths arranged to see this correspondent secretly late one night, along with some parents and relatives of other youths slain, as the relatives believe, by the police.At the last minute the relatives sent word that the police had threatened them with dire consequences if they talked too much.
However, many other persons have come forth, either openly or secretly, to tell of incidents.The risk was considerable for all such persons, for the police had been trying to keep the closest watch on this correspondent from the moment of his arrival three days ago.
Many of the leading citizens came in person or sent invitations to their homes.Dozens of humble persons accosted me on the streets and elsewhere to shake hands, partly to thank The New York Times for what is considered its effort to present the truth about Cuba in its news and editorial columns, and partly as a gesture of defiance against the authorities.
For instance, a group of nine trade union leaders, representers of the province, came to see me at the hotel yesterday afternoon.
“None of us is political or partisan.We speak to you as Cubans.We represent and we are the people of Cuba and we are against Batista and his clique.You may be sure that all workers are good Cubans and feel the way we do, all except our top national leaders, who are chosen by Batista and are in his pay.”
Everybody I saw was convinced that the police authorities had orders from Havana to refrain from any act of terrorism during the three days I was here.They were all certain that the authorities wanted to forestall the Times’ publishing any first-hand account of Government counter-terrorism.For this reason, The Times gets credit for having given Santiago de Cuba three days of peace, such as this tormented city has not known in many months
To be consistent he must punish virtually the entire population of the city, starting with Msgr. Enrique Perez Serantes, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, who received me openly for a courtesy visit and gladly posed for photographs.One of those who dined with me in a public restaurant was a priest who is the leader of the Roman Catholic youth movement here.At the same table was a pastor who heads the Protestant community.
Many believe the police will not even respect the clergy.
Even the United States consul, Oscar Guerra, was detained by the police Thursday afternoon.He was driving in his official car, which flies the United States flag, when he was stopped by the police.They refused to accept his explanation and took him to headquarters for questioning.His assistant was threatened with a gun when he came along.Higher authorities quickly realized the mistake and Mr. Guerra received full apologies, which he accepted.
Reports of the incident were greeted with glee here, for anti- United States feeling runs high in the city because of what is considered United States support for General Batista.
There is a constant exodus from the city of youths who try to join Fidel Castro, a young rebel leader in the near-by Sierra Maestra.Señor Castro is the center and symbol of Santiago de Cuba’s resistance.